Since my half marathon is only a few weeks away, I have to do a long run today. Dr. P is on call. Which means two things: I’ll run with the Baby Bee in tow. And Vanilla Cardamom Berry Porridge. Aside: It also means I’m rewarding myself by getting a babysitter and having a night… Read More Vanilla cardamom berry porridge and the benefits of oatmeal

Sometimes you just need some green in your life. Like when Dr. P and I stayed in Midtown Manhattan with Lady for a week. I was just dying for some greenery by the end of the trip! Both because I was craving fresh air, and also so Lady could stop pooping on the sidewalk in… Read More Green mango matcha smoothie bowl

My best friend is a chef. Chef Jenn went to culinary school. Chef Jenn knows all the technical terms for stuff (and she’s a hottie). I didn’t go to culinary school. Inside of a minute, you could convince me “schmegma” was the word for a French braising technique as long as you sounded reasonably confident.… Read More Five ways to eat healthier even if you can’t cook

With Valentine’s Day today, I’m thinking about our hearts. And flowers. But mostly our hearts. Always an advocate of the natural over the pharmaceutical when reasonable, I like to see research supporting natural solutions to our greatest health concerns. So I was happy to see this new research support an easy way to significantly decrease… Read More An easy way to lower blood pressure naturally

It is an honor caring for you. But some days I can’t think clearly. I am forgetful now. I don’t sleep very deeply anymore. But my favorite thing is the scent of the top of your head in the morning. It is such an honor to take care of you. But some days I… Read More The chaos of being a new mom

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Ralph Waldo Emerson You want to be liked. Even if you say you don’t, your biology dictates you do. We are social creatures, and social creatures want to be liked. And generally, we are likable. We have compassion. We are considerate. We are effable,… Read More Why I’m concerned the way we eat makes us total jerks

I knew it would happen at some point- the one primal fear of every new parent. I heard of it happening to other moms, but I thought it wouldn’t happen to me. I thought I was somehow- different, luckier. It happened in Florida of all places. We’re visiting the grandparents. To entertain her, there is… Read More Benefits of coffee and a mom’s fear realized

I used to habitually mow some Wendy’s spicy chicken. It was my favorite high school after-soccer, after-work, before-class, just-because, swing by the drive-thru meal. Back then, my nutrition knowledge was akin to my current knowledge about how to change a tire: poor to non-existent. And I suffered for it. I had bad skin, frequent migraines… Read More Vegan Buffalo Chicken Salad with Vegan Ranch

You may not have heard of tempeh. But it is the healthiest food you aren’t eating. You totally should know it intimately: tempeh is super good for us. So what is it? you ask. Good question. Originally an Indonesian staple, it is a fermented, high protein cake made from edamame (soy) beans. To make… Read More Why you should eat tempeh

Hey, Bae. I don’t know what that word means. In fact, I Googled it to verify spelling (Bay? Bea?). Can you pluralize it? Is it only for significant others or friends, too? What about a boss you really like? If you understand its proper use, you are a) significantly younger or b) cooler than me.… Read More Running pants for bad knees

I want to introduce someone. This is Mimi (aka my mom). We got to talk via video chat over coffee this morning. There are few activities I love more than talking over coffee. She reported that her boyfriend wants to work less and party more. It was a good start to the day. The First… Read More Vegan Hoppin’ John and first YMCA workout

The last couple New Years I’ve picked something to focus on for a month. There was dry January (no booze), 100% strict vegan January (had been vegetarian for years already. Dr. P never ate meat again after this month!), and last year was just-deal-with-pregnancy-nausea January (that was enough!). This year, I’m doing at least a… Read More Buy Nothing New Month

As I’m 9 weeks post-partum this week, I’ve been thinking about when I should expect to be back to my normal level of fitness. I started running last week with a mom friend who had a baby 2 days before I did. We are both tempering our expectations about how quickly we’ll recover to normal… Read More The secret to success: Expectations

As a wedding present, Dr. P got me a nice camera. It’s my favorite possession- unless a dog counts as a belonging? Jury is out on that. Here are a few pics I took in Israel. I love noticing the patterns hidden in every day life. I’ve always been attracted to things that repeat. And… Read More The most important thing for weight loss

Do you leave social events feeling like you’ve been sprayed with mood-elevating fairy dust? Or are you more likely to feel worn out after, retreating to the corner of your couch to refill your social fuel tank? The difference might depend on the friends we choose to keep. In our society of more is more,… Read More Five signs of a great friend or partner

So this week has been a dichotomy of happy personal occasions (working on that post!) colored by precariousness in the peripheral world. At lunch over yellow lentil, onion and cilantro dosas, my girlfriend and I discussed our concerns as our babies rested unknowingly in their strollers. We had just seen “Wind River”, a solemn film. On… Read More An overnight confession and pear peanut butter protein smoothie

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Hi, I'm Joanna.

I'm a private practice dietitian living in Washington DC. I believe in sustainability, moderation, and self-love. I specialize in plant-based eating, diabetes, heart disease, healthy aging, and weight management. I'm learning how to rock momhood while trying to maintain a healthy and active existence. I try to write humorous, inspiring posts about my health and fitness adventures. Glad you found me!